Homeowners Take Drastic Measures to Preserve Ocean Views

In order to secure million-dollar views, homeowners are taking a variety of tactics to get rid of neighbouring trees.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal has listened to two separate debates recently regarding whether or not healthy trees should be cut down by arborists in order to preserve neighbours’ views.

Vincent and Rosina Laing of Sunrise Beach on the Sunshine Coast are currently appealing an order that they must trim six of their trees annually. The order came after their neighbours George and Helen Kokkinos complained that the trees block half of their ocean view.

Mr Kokkinos claims the trees have decreased the overall value of his property by $100,000, while Mr Laing argued that he needed the trees to maintain privacy around his pool area.

But it seems not everyone has taken the matter to court. South-east Queensland councils have investigated hundreds of illegal tree clearings and poisonings on both private and public land over the last few years.

Very few such investigations have resulted in successful prosecutions.

Real estate agents have said properties with trees blocking ocean views could be devalued by as much as $2 million.